Jeremiah 10:21

21 For the pastors are become carnal and have not sought the LORD; therefore they did not understand, and all their flocks scattered.

Jeremiah 10:21 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 10:21

For the pastors are become brutish
The "kings" of Judah, so the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, as Jehoiakim and Zedekiah; though it need not be restrained to these only, but may include all inferior civil magistrates, and even all ecclesiastical rulers, who were the shepherds of the people; but these being like the brute beasts, and without understanding of civil and religious things, and not knowing how to govern the people either in a political or ecclesiastical way, were the cause of their ruin. And have not sought the Lord;
this is an instance of their brutishness and stupidity, and opens the source of all their mistakes and misfortunes; they did not seek the Lord for counsel, by whom kings reign well, and princes decree justice; nor doctrine from the Lord, as the Targum, as the priests and prophets should have done, in order to instruct the people, and feed them with knowledge and understanding; nor did either of them seek the glory of God in what they did, but their own interest, worldly advantage, or applause: therefore they shall not prosper;
in their kingdom, and in the several offices and stations in which they were. Some render the words, "therefore they do not act prudently" ^F2; not consulting the Lord, nor warning the people, nor giving them notice of approaching danger: and all their flocks shall be scattered;
the people of the Jews that were under their government, civil or ecclesiastical, should be dispersed in several nations, and especially in Chaldee; wherefore it follows:

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (wlykvh al) "non egerunt prudenter", Vatablus, Tigurine version; "non intellexerunt", Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 10:21 In-Context

19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous, but I said, Truly this is my sickness, and I must bear it.

20 My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my sons were taken from me, and they are lost; there is no one to stretch forth my tent any more and to set up my curtains.

21 For the pastors are become carnal and have not sought the LORD; therefore they did not understand, and all their flocks scattered.

22 Behold, the voice of the rumour is come, and a great commotion out of the land of the north wind to make the cities of Judah desolate and a den of dragons.

23 O LORD, I know that man is not the lord of his own way: it is not in man that walks to order his steps.